24-04-2025
Julie Stimson wins Excellence in Public Service Award
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Julie Stimson, the director of Sedgwick County Emergency Management, was recognized Tuesday with a 2025 Excellence in Public Service Award, honoring her leadership, dedication, and commitment to community preparedness.
The award, now in its 37th year, is presented by the DeVore Foundation and highlights top-performing public employees from the city, county, and public schools in Wichita. Honorees are selected for their strong work ethic, high performance, and service both on the job and through volunteer efforts. Each recipient receives a $3,000 award.
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Stimson said she was 'completely humbled and surprised' by the recognition. 'This job isn't something that one person can do—it takes a team, it takes a whole community really to come together,' she said.
Stimson leads a department of just five employees responsible for coordinating emergency response efforts across 20 cities and a population of over half a million people in Sedgwick County. She emphasized the importance of community awareness and personal preparedness for both natural and man-made disasters.
'We're trying to get out into the community to help people think about how to prepare for things we hope never happen—power outages, tornadoes, and other emergencies,' she said. 'It's about knowing how to receive information and making a plan before disaster strikes.'
The formal award reception will take place on May 14 at Botanica Wichita. Additional honorees from the city, county, and public school district will be announced on April 24, following the final round of surprise presentations. The annual award is also sponsored by KSN.
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